US Just Agreed To Give India Electromagnetic Launch System For INS Vishal Aircraft Carrier

Indian Navy is the only one in Asia that has operated aircraft carriers continually for more than 50 years. The first indigenous carrier, the INS Vikrant, is due to join the fleet soon. A bigger follow-on ship is still on the drawing board. The next-gen aircraft carrier will likely ditch the angled deck in favour of a CATOBAR (Catapult Assisted Take-Off But Arrested Recovery) system. This will allow the carrier to launch bigger and heavier aircraft (or a fighter with heavier weapons and fuel load).

There is good news on this front as the US has decided to release the crucial Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System for the Indian Navy's future aircraft carrier, according to the Trump administration.

reuters

The decision comes ahead of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's visit to India. A formal date of the visit has not been announced yet.

India had sent a letter of request to the US government during the Obama administration for the Electromagnetic Launch System (EMLAS) built by General Atomics for aircraft carrier planned by the Indian Navy.

Due to its flexible architecture, EMALS can launch a wide variety of aircraft weights and can be used on a variety of platforms with differing catapult configurations.

The Trump administration sent a response to India on Monday about its decision to release this technology.

reuters

Aerospace expert Dr Vivek Lall, chief executive, US and International Strategic Development, of General Atomics had told earlier that General Atomics is planning to open an office in Delhi to support the Indian government's military requirements.

The Indian Navy plans to integrate the US-made EMALS catapults into its future supercarriers.

This gesture ahead of the Tillerson's visit is another indication of the strategic alliance US wants to foster with India, informed sources said.